Dear Editor
IT is indeed a tragedy of enormous proportions in which the road accident and fatality of national cyclist Jude Bentley, involving former GDF Chief of Staff, ret’d, Rear Admiral, Gary Best. The fact is that a life has been lost, and heartfelt condolences are offered to the bereaved family and friends.

Editor, that is indeed the key factor with all the likely complicated scenarios which such may hold for Best. it is not my intention here to defend or determine culpability or not in a tragedy that has taken the life of one of Guyana’s outstanding sports persons. Such must be the preserve and determination by the proper and competent authorities, which initial process is in progress.

Such a high-profile public figure as Best is involved, given who he was, and his continued role in public affairs, contributing to the key sector of the Green State Economy, and his subsequent transitionary role as a politician, and his just announced nomination as an MP on the list of APNU+AFC candidates for the March 2 general and regional elections.

And given the highly intensified nature of our current environment at this time, John Public will have his say, and this includes the political vultures of the PPP/C opposition, which supporters’ social media postings on the accident have been disgusting, to say the least.
One such that caught my attention was a blogger, Col123 who, via Demerara Waves, expressed the following: “…an incident involving a lost life.just pending, to be swept under the carpet”. This is a most unfair comment since it pre-supposes that Best, because of who he is, and his connections to the state, will have his matter toned down, and subsequently dissipated.

Editor, this cannot be further from the truth, given the fact that the David Granger-led administration has shown an intolerance to high officials, whenever a misdemeanour is proven against them. A vivid example of this taking –no-prisoner line, has been the dismissal of a former Director of Prisons, on allegations of sexual misconduct against a serving junior rank. The interesting aspect of this particular case was that the incident had taken place during the tenure of the PPP/C regime, and although the victim had filed official complaints, it was apparently swept under the carpet, like similar allegations made against the children of some former PPP/C ministers of government. It took Minister of National Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, to read the riot act, bringing that ex-director’s tenure to an end. One can also refer to the removal of a former CANU Head, after a government-ordered commission of enquiry.

Now, compare this instant action to another nasty example of a former well-known PPP/C minister of government at the time, who struck down a serving police corporal, riding his motor cycle somewhere in the vicinity of Tukeyen. Rather than remain at the scene and render assistance to the injured man, as is required by law, the minister not only drove away, but afterwards sent his son to the scene of the accident.

Of course, despite the policeman’s official complaint, in the form of statements etcetera., nothing materialised, since under the PPP/C regime, officials of whatever rank were never made to be accountable for their actions, much less to be investigated for an offence by the law and brought before the courts. Even the then Commissioner of Police, abandoned his rank, by declaring that he was at fault! The poor policeman with an almost mangled leg, several times complained to the then media about the bitterness he felt, at the non-acknowledgment of the minister for his injuries suffered, as well as an unhelpful police force, of which he was at the time a serving member.

This incident had been well publicised, particularly in the Kaieteur News, so there can be no opportunity for denial of its ever taking place, by both Col123 and his devious pal rudeo, blogging about the Best incident. Both of these bloggers would have noted that Best was in full compliance with law enforcement, which included being taken to a community police precinct, where he was detained. This is unprecedented for any person of Best’s stature, during the time of governance above the law. But in this dispensation, there has to be respect for the law, and acknowledgement for its full authority.

As a former soldier, Best, from his declaration of “Asking for no special treatment” in this very serious matter, is indicating that he will follow as the law dictates. Let the law therefore lead in whatever direction is deemed appropriate. Col123 and like-minded acolytes should await the outcome of the investigations of this matter, before their unjustified comments, designed to accuse the GPF and the coalition of giving preferential treatment to a former high-ranking military commander in a very serious matter in which he is involved.

Regards
Earl Hamilton